Smoke rises during an explosion from an Israeli forces strike in Gaza City

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

ISRAEL was mobilising tanks and thousands of troops last night as it piled pressure on under-fire Gaza.

They bombarded the Strip with nearly 300 air strikes yesterday as the Middle East conflict escalated amid fears that Israel was only hours away from launching a ground invasion.

It had 75,000 reservists on stand-by last night.

The devastating attacks came as Egypt attempted to broker a ceasefire and end the four-day offensive.

Israel’s targets included the Hamas prime minister’s headquarters. Ismail Haniya’s three-storey office building was flattened by an air strike that blew out the windows of neighbouring homes. He was not inside at the time.

Air strikes also knocked out five electricity transformers, cutting off power to more than 400,000 people in southern Gaza.

Israel said it had targeted rocket launchers, weapons storage facilities and smuggling tunnels on the border with Egypt and Gaza.

Tal Russo, Israel’s southern commander, said Hamas had suffered a tough blow. He added: “Most of their capabilities have been destroyed.”

Meanwhile, Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel, including one at Tel Aviv that was shot down. Israeli military said their Iron Dome rocket-defence system had intercepted nearly 250 rockets since fighting broke out on Wednesday.

Damage caused by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip

At least 40 Palestinians and three Israelis have died since the assassination of Hamas military chief Ahmed Jabari.

The White House yesterday said they believe Israel “has the right to defend itself”.